Bolognese
This is hands down one of my favorite pasts sauces of all times. It is just so satisfying to sit down to a bowl of pasta with this meaty sauce. This is the perfect recipe to make on a quiet day at home. It does take the better part of a day to make, but it is totally worth it. This recipe makes enough for four meals for my husband and I. It freezes beautifully and I love having it on hand for a quick meal.
1 large onion- fine dice
2 stalks celery- fine dice
2 carrots- peeled/fine dice
4 cloves garlic- minced
1/2 cup pancetta- small dice
2 1/2 LB ground meat (your choice)
1 cup dry white wine
1 1/2 cups milk (2% or whole)
2 cups chicken stock
2 cans petite diced tomatoes (14.5 oz cans
1 bunch kale- stems removed/thinly sliced
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp dried basil
Salt & pepper
Grated parmesan cheese for serving
In a very large skillet or pot, cook the pancetta in just a little oil. Cook it until the fat is rendered and the meat is crisp. Add the onion, celery and carrots and cook until soft. Add the garlic and cook for 2-3 minutes.
For the meat, I like to use a combination of pork, chicken and beef, but you can use whatever you prefer. I like to use leaner cuts to keep the sauce from being too oily. Add your meat to the pan and turn the heat to low. You want to cook the meat without browning it, this helps to keep it tender and delicate. I love this meat masher gadget I have (see photo). It makes it so easy to break your ground meat into small pieces. Once the meat is cooked through but not brown, add the wine and turn the heat up just slightly. Cook until all the liquid has been absorbed. Add the milk and cook until all the liquid is absorbed. Add the tomatoes, kale and stock.
Here is where the waiting comes in. Ideally, you want the sauce to simmer for 5 hours, but let’s be real, most of us can’t wait that long. Try to give it at least three hours. Don’t boil it, just a light simmer. Stir occasionally. Salt & pepper to taste during the last 30 minutes of cooking. My favorite use of this sauce is with potato gnocchi. You can make it from scratch, but after cooking this sauce all day, I rarely feel like doing that. My favorite store bought brand is Gia Russa (see photo). They cook up in just a couple minutes. This sauce is also delicious on any type of pasta. I especially like it with pappardelle, linguine or spaghetti. Mix the sauce with your choice of gnocchi or pasta and top with parmesan. Enjoy!
